For the first time since 2017, the Carolina Panthers are in the playoffs. Though it was definitely not a clean season—or an easy one—the hometown team has finally arrived at the promised land. The season was one of ups and downs, and the Panthers even finished with a losing record. We suffered some awful losses, specifically to the Patriots and twice to the awful, awful Saints. There were definitely times when I lost all hope and even considered quitting watching football altogether.
But there were also moments when I truly believed the Panthers were going to the Super Bowl—especially after beating NFC powerhouses like the Rams and Packers. Those two games were easily the highlights of my season. And how could I forget Rico Dowdle going for over 200 yards in back-to-back games? It’s crazy that he earned over 1,000 rushing yards despite barely starting and splitting touches with Chuba Hubbard.
Tet McMillan was another major bright spot this season. He emerged as a dynamic vertical threat and is currently trending toward winning Offensive Rookie of the Year. Despite many convincing performances, there are still doubters who say the Panthers are undeserving of a playoff opportunity. They are blatantly wrong and clearly biased against our young, up-and-coming team.
Bryce Young is such a talented quarterback that the team’s record simply does not reflect our true ability. When you have a QB who can change the game at any time, the final score doesn’t always tell the full story. Jaycee Horn and Derrick Brown lead a defense that is truly in a league of its own. Jaycee Horn is a reincarnation of Josh Norman—a true lockdown cornerback who sets the tone of every game. He’s so dominant that teams are simply afraid to throw in his direction.
As a longtime Panthers fan, this team makes me feel something I haven’t felt in years: hope. The past few seasons have felt like an endless cycle of torture and sadness. There is nothing more painful than watching countless talented quarterbacks fail in Charlotte—Kyle Allen, Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Darnold, and Baker Mayfield, to name a few. After so many losing seasons, I honestly thought I might have to cancel my live TV subscription.
This week we play the Rams, a team we’ve beaten before, but it will undoubtedly be a tough matchup. Cam Newton will return to the stadium to bang the “Keep Pounding” drum, which should energize the crowd and bring life to the beautiful city of Charleston, South Carolina. I never thought we’d be in this position—only three wins away from the Super Bowl.
Many people will say we’re going to lose our first-round game, but I completely disregard those critics. For the first time since 2017, the Carolina Panthers are fighting for a real chance to win the Super Bowl.
Post Game Update- After a hard fought game, the panthers unfortunately have lost to the star studded St Louis Rams. We tried as hard as we could, and Bryce Young cemented himself as the QB of the future, but their offense was too much for us to handle. After all I am just happy I had hope and that we will cary this momentum into next year. As Mr. Claus said, I’m not mad its over, I’m happy that it happened.
